"Teachers will view today’s appointment as further evidence of the Government's politicisation of school inspection.

"This could further widen the credibility gap between Ofsted and schools, and the new Chair will need to demonstrate his competence to chair the school inspectorate in an impartial manner with regard to all academy and community schools.

“Academy status is no panacea. It is essential that Ofsted distances itself from the pressure to force schools to become academies against their will."

Mr Hoare's appointment came after a furious Coalition row over the appointment after the Liberal Democrats accused former education secretary Michael Gove of trying to politicise the job.

Lib Dem Schools Minister David Laws was said to have been furious when Mr Gove announced in February that current Ofsted chair Baroness Morgan – a former senior aide to Tony Blair – would not have her contract extended.

The Lib Dems were further enraged by reports that Mr Gove was lining up multi-millionaire Tory donor and Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross to take over the position.

However Mr Gove's demotion to Chief Whip in David Cameron's reshuffle earlier this month and his replacement by Ms Morgan appears to have cleared the way for the dispute to be settled.

Mr Hoare is the current chairman of mail company DX Group and a trustee of AET, the largest academy group in the UK. He will take up his new role with Ofsted in September.

The Department for Education said Mr Hoare, who has also been chairman of Virgin Express, Paragon Group and Laura Ashley and is chairman of the Teenage Cancer Trust, would be giving up his seat of the board of AET.

Announcing the appointment, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "He is a proven business leader who has the expertise in leadership and governance crucial to helping Ofsted through a significant period of change and reform.

"He is also passionate about education and his work with academies across the country shows he shares my commitment to ever higher standards in our schools, for all children but particularly the most disadvantaged."

Mr Hoare said he was looking forward to working closely with the Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to raise standards – particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

"Ofsted has a key role helping to improve the leadership of our schools and the performance of our pupils. I look forward to being part of the team," he said.

However, Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "The NASUWT believes that it is important that Ofsted acts in the public interest, and discharges its role without fear or favour," said Ms Keates.

"In the light of recent controversies about the increasing politicisation of Ofsted, one of his major challenges will be to restore the confidence of the public and the profession in the governance of Ofsted.

"I therefore look forward to David Hoare demonstrating his commitment to acting in the public interest by resigning his seat on the board of AET, the largest academy chain in England."

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "We welcome a new chair of Ofsted into what will be a difficult role. David Hoare has already shown a positive interest in the development of children through his recent work.

"He quickly needs to address the pressure placed on teachers from the current Ofsted regime, which is in disarray with questionable quality control processes.

"He also needs to remember that schools are not businesses, and shouldn't become businesses. We hope Mr Hoare will meet soon with teacher union representatives to talk about the urgent reform of Ofsted."

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "The Tories have shown they cannot be trusted with Ofsted.

"They first undermined its independence by sacking Sally Morgan and trying to appoint cronies in her place.

"Playing politics with children's education by filling posts with the Tories' nearest and dearest is not acceptable.

"Labour wants an independent schools inspectorate that focuses on raising children's performance, not politics, and a reversal of this Government's damaging policy of allowing unqualified teachers into the classroom."